“We cannot afford food and basic necessities such as water‚ electricity and transport‚ and added to this we live in overcrowded communities because of a lack of decent housing‚” read the statement.

"Further to this‚ the high levels of corruption in the public and private sector are exacerbating the poor's plight‚ as resources which are meant to improve the lives of the poor are being stolen by thugs in suits and boardrooms‚ leaving the poor to die of hunger and violence.

“Our communities are saying enough is enough. We are taking back our power and mobilising to govern ourselves‚ as those meant to serve on our behalf have proven themselves untrustworthy and unaccountable to us‚ the working class.”

Abrahams and her fellow organisers‚ Gatto Wanza from Manenberg and Yaseen Johaar from Hanover Park‚ said the movement was non-partisan‚ non-sectarian‚ and “grounded in democratic grassroots practices and processes”.

They added: “Our movement aims to mobilise and unite our working class communities and build solidarity for our cause‚ which is fighting violence‚ poverty‚ inequality‚ racism and neo-liberalism by creating a better‚ safer‚ healthier and equal society.”

Abrahams said future action by the movement would depend on the response to Tuesday’s action of different tiers of government.

JP Smith‚ the City of Cape Town mayoral committee member for safety and security‚ said metro police would work with the SA Police Service to deal with any disruption caused by the protests.

“The problem is that this protest has not applied for a permit in terms of the national Regulation of Gatherings Act. This puts it in automatic conflict with SAPS‚” he said.